23 MPs rent back their own homes at the taxpayers’ expense

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

Twenty-three MPs are claiming an allowance of between $34,00-$52,000 to stay in their own Wellington homes, a perk that sees the taxpayer help politicians pay off their mortgages.

Six National Party ministers, the Speaker Gerry Brownlee and deputy speaker Barbara Kuriger claim the capped allowance to cover living costs in the city. They then use it to pay rent on property they already own.

Seven Labour MPs and two from ACT are also receiving up to $36,400-a year, the maximum paid to backbenchers.

Earlier this week, The Post revealed National’s Ōtaki MP Tim Costley is claiming the allowance for his own Wellington apartment — despite living just 58km from Parliament. And Labour MP Kieran McAnulty uses the perk to rent property from his wife.

The arrangements, which allow MPs to bank the capital gains on their property, are entirely within Parliament’s rules.

Out-of-town MPs who don’t own Wellington pads can use the allowance to pay rent or claim up to $260-a night for hotels. Parliament sits between 80 and 90 days of the year, with MPs spending roughly two nights of a sitting week in the Capital.

Earlier this year multi-millionaire Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid back the allowance he claimed on his mortgage-free Wellington apartment, following a public backlash. His apartment, close to Parliament, was mortgage-free and he chooses to live there rather than the official residence, Premier House.

No MPs from the Greens, Te Pāti Māori or NZ First take advantage of the perk.

Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly, Defence Minister Judith Collins, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, and Social Development Minister Louise Upston all use the accommodation allowance to pay mortgages on their Wellington homes.

As members of the executive, they are entitled to up to $52,000 per year.

From the National Party caucus Paulo Garcia, David MacLeod, Stuart Smith, Catherine Wedd, Vanessa Weenink, and Costley, claim up to $36,400 for their property.

As Speaker, Brownlee is also allowed to draw on a $52,000 a year for his capital town house. He owns five properties.

His deputy Kuriger, who owns two homes and three farms, can get the same.

“All of National’s MPs are expected to comply with Parliament’s rules with respect to accommodation allowances,” a spokesperson for the party said.

As well as McAnulty, Labour MPs Willie Jackson, Deborah Russell, Jenny Salesa, Jan Tinetti, Duncan Webb and Arena Williams draw on the allowance.

Labour’s whip Tangi Utikere said: “All our MPs are required to be in Wellington for work.

“For those who are primarily based in electorates outside of Wellington and own property in the capital, the allowance contributes to a mortgage instead of a hotel or rent, which is well within parliamentary rules, which are independently set.”

ACT’s Todd Stephenson and Simon Court use the entitlement to pay their mortgages.

A spokesperson for ACT confirmed Court claims the allowance for a Wellington flat he owns, and has a mortgage on, in Wellington. Stephenson uses it for a property he and his partner purchased in 2019 as an investment, he said.

Many of these MPs have extensive property portfolios.

Bayly has his Wellington pad, a home in Auckland, a Waikato farm, a share of a Coromandel house, Queenstown apartment and Onehunga residence, as well as commercial property in Pukekohe.

Brownlee has three properties in Christchurch, as well as in Havelock and Wellington.

Collins’ family home is in Auckland, and she also owns commercial and residential property in Wellington and a Nelson home.

Costley lives in a $1.4 million riverside home in Waikanae, has two rental properties in Palmerston North, and a Wellington flat.

Court has four homes, two in Auckland, and in Wellington and Rotorua.

As well as a Wellington flat, Goldsmith has a family home in Remuera and a half share of a place in the Waitakere Ranges.

Jackson jointly owns family homes in Māngere Bridge and Rotorua, as well as the capital bolt-hole.

Kuriger also owns two family homes in New Plymouth and Te Awamutu, three Ōpunake dairy farms and the Wellington flat.

MacLeod lives in his New Plymouth electorate, has a flat close to Parliament and bach in Kinloch, near Taupō.

Mitchell has five properties in his portfolio. As well as residences in Auckland and Wellington, he has three rentals in Auckland and a Coromandel holiday home.

Salesa has three properties in Auckland, one in the capital and two acres of land in Tonga.

Smith has two homes, a timeshare and a half-share of an apartment in Queenstown, and a Blenheim rental.

Stephenson has a home in Queenstown, five apartments including two in Sydney and Geelong, and a Te Anau rental.

Weenink owns a family home in Cashmere, and a rental in Merivale, Christchurch, as well as the Wellington apartment.

THE MPs WHO CLAIM:

NATIONAL:

Tim Costley

Andrew Bayly

Gerry Brownlee

Judith Collins

Paulo Garcia

Paul Goldsmith

Barbara Kuriger

Melissa Lee

David Macleod

Mark Mitchell

Stuart Smith

Louise Upston

Catherine Wedd

Vanessa Weenink

LABOUR

Kieran McAnulty

Willie Jackson

Deborah Russell

Jenny Salesa

Jan Tinetti

Duncan Webb

Arena Williams

ACT

Todd Stephenson

Simon Court